During the last 70 years, many public-sector programs and initiatives have made tremendous progress in improving the health and well-being of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). However, as a recent commentary piece by Health Affairs Forefront points out, that progress is now inhibited and, in some cases halted, due to recent funding and staffing cuts made by the federal government.
Advocates for people with I/DD are urging states, non-governmental and private-sector organizations to unite and take action to protect and promote the health and well-being of the I/DD population, and Dungarvin medical professionals wholeheartedly agree.
Sarah Dubany, RN, Dungarvin Health Services Manager
“Lack of proper funding can result in lapses of medical care and/or services that could potentially lead to negative health outcomes,” said Sarah Dubany, Registered Nurse and Dungarvin Health Services Manager.”
Dungarvin is a national, family-owned provider of community-based services for children and adults with I/DD and others in need of supports. Its medical teams, including nursing professionals and health services coordinators, provide person-centered care to individuals with I/DD across the country.
In the U.S., more than 17 million people live with I/DD, which includes autism and Down syndrome. As Health Affairs Forefront points out, this population’s life expectancy has increased over the past several decades, but people with I/DD still have higher rates of diseases like diabetes, mental illness and other chronic conditions.
Unfortunately, the U.S. health system has a long way to go to adequately serve people with I/DD in a manner that not only supports their health and well-being, but honors their right to make choices and participate fully as members of their communities. Dungarvin considers these rights of the highest value in its mission to respect and respond to the choices of people in need of supports.
“Community integration and person-centered support has become the cornerstone of Dungarvin’s mission, and it contributes to the overall health and well-being of the individuals we serve,” Dubany said.
Federal funding and staffing cuts to critical agencies — such as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Administration for Community Living — threaten I/DD-focused clinical training programs, data and research, home- and community-based services financing, developmental disability councils, regulations prohibiting discrimination against people with I/DD in medical treatment, and more.
This is a critical time for advocacy for the individuals we support to continue to receive the proper services they need to manage and maintain their health, experience autonomy and maintain their quality of life.
Sarah Dubany, RN, Dungarvin Health Services Manager
The lack of leadership at the federal level means that private organizations need to come together to fill that gap and provide credible sources of critical information and science-backed direction. Here are some of Health Affairs Forefront’s recommendations:
- Produce disability-specific guidelines and advisories
- Collect and steward national data on I/DD populations’ health experiences
- Monitor uses of person-level I/DD data
- Set a consensus national research agenda
- Promote the social model of disability and positive understanding of I/DD
Dubany agrees with these strategies and said she hopes people will heed the call to protect and promote health and well-being for people with I/DD. “This is a critical time for advocacy for the individuals we support to continue to receive the proper services they need to manage and maintain their health, experience autonomy and maintain their quality of life.”
To learn more about this issue, read the Health Affairs Forefront article.
If you or someone you know is interested in learning how you can receive support from Dungarvin, please visit us at www.dungarvin.com to learn more.